Milan Italy, Lombardy, Italy8-28: Arrived at the Central Station around 6:00 p.m. What a beautiful building. Interesting thing we read is that the art is supposed to make a person feel that a powerful state is a good thing (fascist built in 1931).
After reading about pickpockets, we were a little concerned and apprehensive, but everything was great; no evidence of any problems. Because of the GPS, we knew exactly where we were going and had a short walk of about four blocks to the hotel.
HOTEL BERNA - fantastic!
Greeted by the most hospitable people; the staff is remarkably friendly and helpful. Very impressed with the security—double secure doors at entry; cameras in hallway. The room wasn’t large but it was very comfortable. Nice large bathroom; extremely clean. Superb breakfast—so many choices; ended being the best breakfast buffet of the 11 hotels we stayed in during our 3-week trip through northern Italy and Switzerland! Close easy walk from the Central Train Station. We did walk to the restaurants at night; there were some homeless people on the side streets sometimes wanting a handout, but never aggressive. Felt perfectly safe. Would definitely stay here again.
Greeted by the most hospitable people; the staff is remarkably friendly and helpful. Very impressed with the security—double secure doors at entry; cameras in hallway. The room wasn’t large but it was very comfortable. Nice large bathroom; extremely clean. Superb breakfast—so many choices; ended being the best breakfast buffet of the 11 hotels we stayed in during our 3-week trip through northern Italy and Switzerland! Close easy walk from the Central Train Station. We did walk to the restaurants at night; there were some homeless people on the side streets sometimes wanting a handout, but never aggressive. Felt perfectly safe. Would definitely stay here again.
Lois too exhausted so Randy walked a couple of blocks to a sister bank for money and got a take-out pizza.
8-29 SIGHTSEEING: bon journo (good morning)
Metro Pass—purchased a 2-day pass from the hotel, which includes the bus.
Took the Metro from train station to the Duomo.
DUOMO: Hardly any people there at 9:00 am.—great for taking pictures of the outside. This massive, richly ornamented Gothic cathedral is the fifth largest cathedral in Europe with 3,500 statues, 135 spires, 5 bronze doors. This is our first time to Europe and we are awe struck! After reading and watching “Pillars of the Earth,” we certainly appreciate the workmanship that took 500 years to complete. Hard to imagine.
Took the Metro from train station to the Duomo.
DUOMO: Hardly any people there at 9:00 am.—great for taking pictures of the outside. This massive, richly ornamented Gothic cathedral is the fifth largest cathedral in Europe with 3,500 statues, 135 spires, 5 bronze doors. This is our first time to Europe and we are awe struck! After reading and watching “Pillars of the Earth,” we certainly appreciate the workmanship that took 500 years to complete. Hard to imagine.
Read about a "Sunset Terraces" tour that the church conducts and spent around 45 minutes being directed to different places only to find out it is only in Italian.
“THE LAST SUPPER” painting by Leonardo da Vinci at the Santa Maria delle Grazie church. Our reservations were at 11:30 for the 15-minute viewing that includes an audio guide. How lucky we feel to see this masterpiece from the Renaissance!
(TIP--take tram #16 from the Duomo; it drops you off right in front of the church. Be sure to get the audio guide before you go into the room with the painting,)
(TIP--take tram #16 from the Duomo; it drops you off right in front of the church. Be sure to get the audio guide before you go into the room with the painting,)
GALLERIA VITTORIA EMANUELE
--elegant 4-story glass-domed arcade right on the cathedral square with very expensive stores. The central dome area contains patriotic mosaics. Like everyone else, we found the Torino (little bull) from the Turin Coat of Arms, put our heals on the testicles, and spun around three times for luck.
--elegant 4-story glass-domed arcade right on the cathedral square with very expensive stores. The central dome area contains patriotic mosaics. Like everyone else, we found the Torino (little bull) from the Turin Coat of Arms, put our heals on the testicles, and spun around three times for luck.
PIAZZA SCALA, behind the Galleria, is very pretty with the statue of Leonardo and the LaScala Opera House across the street.
PHOTO_ID_BLOCK=lascala-opera-house.jpg]
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CASTELLO SFRZESCO (Sforza Castle)—Beautiful fountain as you walk up to this 15th century stone building, which was built as a military fortress in the 1300’s and improved by the Sforza duke in 1450. Museum audio tour very helpful even though there is a fact sheet in each room. Michelangelo’s Pieta is certainly a highlight of the museum. The castle grounds are beautiful with a wonderful view of the Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace).
(TIP: E5 metro stop is right by Duomo so it’s easy to get here.)
(TIP: E5 metro stop is right by Duomo so it’s easy to get here.)
DUOMO ROOFTOP WALK—came back to the Duomo around 4:00 because the rooftop was open later than the other places. Took elevator to top (we’re all walked out) for the unforgettable experience of walking among the spires. The 15-foot tall gilded Madonna overlooks it all 330 feet above everything. What a perfect way to end our first sightseeing day in Europe. The weather even cooperated since it was an unusually clear day/evening with great views.
bon a sara (good evening)
8-30: TRAVEL INFO: There are 2 train stations in Milan (we did not know this). Good thing we got going about an hour early in the morning. We thought the Italo train to Florence was at the same station where we arrived. Wrong. It’s at the Garibaldi station, which meant getting the metro; only had to go 2 stops so we made it with time to spare. Italo has a nice waiting area. There are lots of stairs to climb with no elevators or escalators.
Italo train from Milan to Florence extremely nice; they even come around with drinks and cookies. Only six people in our first-class car. The scenery reminded us of the area surrounding Denver with farms and mountains in the distance. Can't believe so much graffetti--everywhere along the train route.
PLACES WE ATE:
(near Duomo):
Grom, the well-known gelato shop—hazelnut cream & pistachio & dark chocolate & chocolate hazelnut. No way can we choose a favorite; they are all sooooo good!
Luini Panzerotti --took metro back to the Duomo area just to get their panzetti for lunch The line coming out the door into the street makes this place easy to find (on street behind Galleria). Took our food and walked down a block or so to a piazza.
Piazza San Fedele. Lovely little square with tables and shade.
Wouldn’t you know there is a Magnum store right there too. At only 2 euros, couldn’t resist.
(near Duomo):
Grom, the well-known gelato shop—hazelnut cream & pistachio & dark chocolate & chocolate hazelnut. No way can we choose a favorite; they are all sooooo good!
Luini Panzerotti --took metro back to the Duomo area just to get their panzetti for lunch The line coming out the door into the street makes this place easy to find (on street behind Galleria). Took our food and walked down a block or so to a piazza.
Piazza San Fedele. Lovely little square with tables and shade.
Wouldn’t you know there is a Magnum store right there too. At only 2 euros, couldn’t resist.
(near Hotel)
Anatares for take-out pizza, which was great. Our first time in Italy, the owner doesn't speak English that well. Ordered pepperoni on the pizza, which translated to big chunks of green pepper. We now know we should have ordered salami.
Osteria Faro, a few blocks from the hotel, for dinner in their lovely garden terrace. Brick oven pizza with sausage, prosciutto, garlic; Tagliolini with red shrimp from Mazara del Vallo with cherry tomatoes from Pachino (don’t know what all that means, but it was sure good). Cookies to satisfy the sweet tooth; the waiter even wrapped some for us to take.
Gelateria Paganelli, a local Gelato shop with delightful owners. Gelato even better than Grom.
Anatares for take-out pizza, which was great. Our first time in Italy, the owner doesn't speak English that well. Ordered pepperoni on the pizza, which translated to big chunks of green pepper. We now know we should have ordered salami.
Osteria Faro, a few blocks from the hotel, for dinner in their lovely garden terrace. Brick oven pizza with sausage, prosciutto, garlic; Tagliolini with red shrimp from Mazara del Vallo with cherry tomatoes from Pachino (don’t know what all that means, but it was sure good). Cookies to satisfy the sweet tooth; the waiter even wrapped some for us to take.
Gelateria Paganelli, a local Gelato shop with delightful owners. Gelato even better than Grom.
2025-05-22